Threecorner Grove

A carpet of bluebells amongst a brightly lit woodland area

Photo credit: Mathew Frith

Threecorner Grove

A chalk woodland wonder on London’s southern extremity.

Location

Featherbed Lane,
New Addington
Croydon
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A static map of Threecorner Grove

Know before you go

Size
2 hectares
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Access

Bus: 64, 664 (Kennelwood Cresent)

Tram: New Addington (15-min walk)

Access to Three Corner Grove is via Hutchinson’s Bank nature reserve. Footpaths are sometimes steep and stepped. Access to Hutchinson’s Bank from Farleigh Dean Crescent is level and suitable for wheelchairs if the gates are unlocked by arrangement. Street parking is available in North Downs Road and Thorpe Close. Follow the bridleway next to Featherbed Lane to get to Threecorner Grove.

Dogs

image/svg+xmlOn a lead

When to visit

Opening times

Open at all times

Best time to visit

April to July

About the reserve

On the Surrey border sits Threecorner Grove, a triangular woodland that neighbours Hutchinson’s Bank and Chapel Bank in New Addington. It is a magical stand of ancient chalk woodland, overseen by a tall canopy of oak, ash and wild cherry, with field maple, small-leafed lime, and whitebeam trees, some of which tower up to 25 metres. Ancient woodland indicators such as wood sorrel, plus evidence of long-standing earth banks along its edges, are testimony to Threecorner Grove’s age and stability; a woodland largely undisturbed for hundreds of years.

History

Chalk grassland develops on shallow lime-rich chalky soils that are nutrient-poor and free-draining, and in London this internationally important habitat is predominantly found in the southern parts of the boroughs of Bromley, Croydon and Sutton.

This part of the North Downs was traditionally grazed by sheep until the 1950s, but changes occurred as new settlements such as New Addington and Forestdale developed. London Wildlife Trust began managing nearby reserve Chapel Bank in 1984 and another reserve Hutchinson’s Bank in 1987. Grazing was re-introduced to Hutchinson’s in 1995, and Chapel Bank in 2011, for the first time in half-a-century. Threecorner Grove was included into the reserves’ management in 1997, as was the verge alongside Featherbed Lane north of Hutchinson’s Bank.

Status

Part Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, Metropolitan Green Belt

Get involved

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Find out more about volunteering on our nature reserves and how to apply here.

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Contact us

Simon Hawkins
Contact number: 07772 821134

Wild cherries of Threecorner Grove

Threecorner Grove is a tiny pocket of ancient woodland, nestled between Hutchinson’s Bank and Chapel Bank. Cherries are more familiar as small trees, usually found in parks, gardens or woodland edges, but the wild cherries of Threecorner Grove in Croydon stand over 23 metres high. In spring they make a magnificent sight, covered with bright white blossom. In summer their fruits are eagerly devoured by thrushes and woodpigeons.

Wild Cherry Threecorner Grove credit Mathew Frith

© Mathew Frith